Cigarette package



Dec. 24, 1940.

w. BECHTEL ,046

CIGARETTE PACKAGE Filed March 15, 1939 Mes/q; Bea/77W,

Patented Dec. 24, 1940 I UNITED STATES EPA-TENT "OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to cigarette packages including a wrapper having spaced parallel slots in the wrapper thereof, whereby a folder of matches may be readily attached to the package so that the matches will always be at hand to light a cigarette when the latter is withdrawn from the package.

It has heretofore been proposed to simply provide the spaced parallel slots in the wrapper of the cigarette package so that when the folder of a match package is passed through the slot so as to underlie the portion of the wrapper between the slots, the cigarette package and the match package will be united. However, due to the fact that the wrapper of cigarette packages are ordinarily made of thin paper which will readily tear, constant use of the match package after its attachment to the cigarette package ultimately causes the wrapper of the cigarette package to become torn so as to result in premature destruction of the cigarette package and even detachment of the match package therefrom.

In order to overcome the above defect, I propose to place a sheet of strongstiff cardboard or the like between the inner container and the wrapper of the cigarette package, said sheet of cardboard substantially conforming in shape and size to the side of the cigarette package with which it is associated and in which the parallel slots are formed. In this way, the cigarette package is reinforced to maintain its shape, and the reinforcing sheet has spaced parallel slots therein registered with the slots in the wrapper of the cigarette package so that the folder of the match package may be threaded through the slots of both the wrapper and the reinforcing sheet to lie behind that portion of the latter which is disposed between the parallel slots of the same. In this way, the strains incident to use of the match package are taken by the relatively strong reinforcing sheet instead of being imposed upon the relatively thin and weak wrapper of the cigarette package, thereby insuring against tearing of the cigarette package or consequent detachment of the match package from the cigarette package.

A specific embodiment of the present invention also contemplates the provision of a reinforcing sheet having means to facilitate threading of the folder of the match package through the slots of the reinforcing sheet and the wrapper of the cigarette package, whereby the cigarette and match packages may be readily united in an expeditious manner.

The present invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the reinforcing sheet forming part of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of a cigarette package with a match package united thereto and utilizing the reinforcing sheet of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a plan view of the blank from which the reinforcing sheet of Figure l is formed. 10

Referring in detail to the drawing, the cigarette package consists of the usual inner container 5 and outer wrapper 6. Ordinarily, the wrapper 6 has been simply provided with spaced parallel slots 1 and la in one of the larger walls thereof so 15 that the folder 8 of an ordinary match package might be threaded through said slots to extend behind the portion of the wrapper between the latter and thereby unite the match and cigarette packages.

As the wrapper 6 is invariably formed of thin weak paper, I provide means whereby the packages may be maintained united without danger of tearing the wrapper 6.

In the form shown, the reinforcing sheet 9a consists of an elongated strip of cardboard which is return-bent intermediate its ends as at 10 so as to provide spaced walls H and I2. This sheet is slit intermediate the ends thereof as at I3 so that when the strip is folded at It], the reinforcing sheet is provided at the top with a slot M and a tongue 15 projecting upwardly at the back of said slot and coextensive with the back wall 12. A lower slot Ma is provided in the front wall ll parallel with the slot I4, and in practice, the slots l4 and Ma are arranged to register with the slots ordinarily provided in the wrapper at i and la. In addition, the tongue I5 is arranged to project outwardly through the upper slot 1 of the wrapper 6, so that when the folder of the match package is inserted through the slots 1 and 7a and I4 and I 4a, the end of the folder will be effectively guided outwardly through the upper slot 1 of the wrapper 6. In this way the match package may be readily and expeditiously united to the cigarette package, 45 a minimum amount of difficulty being had in threading the folder 8 of the match package through the slots. At the same time, the reinforcing sheet 9a performs the function of reinforcing the cigarette package substantially throughout the 50 area of a larger wall thereof and preventing tearing of the wrapper between its slots '1 and la.

What I claim as new is:

A cigarette package including an inner container and an outer wrapper, said wrapper having said reinforcing sheet comprising an elongated strip folded intermediate its ends and slitted at the fold to provide one of the slots of said reinforcing sheet, and a tongue projecting upwardly from said slot and extending outwardly through the adjacent slot of the wrapper, whereby the folder of the match package will be guided outwardly through the latter slot to facilitate attachment of the match package to the cigarette package.

WESLEY BECH'IEL. 

